What's the best 6NS7 tube you have tried in your Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp?

The best 6SN7 we've heard so far is the Linlai. There is a globe variant that I don't think will work as well- the globe resonates easily!

Of the NOS tubes the KenRad gets the highest marks.

The 12AU7 should not be ignored- it has the bigger effect in the line stage of the MP-3. The best of the NOS tubes has been the Amperex Bugle Boy 7316. The Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7 is not slouch either. We have some good comments from customers about the Gold Lion reissue 12AU7 and also the Northern Sound 12AU7.

We have extended the range of the servo circuit in the MP-3, allowing it to work with a wider range of mismatch in the 6SN7 internal sections. It also reduces the DC Offset at the output by a factor of 10 or more, down to a few fractions of a milliVolt.

If you can get them, do so. One of the best in my opinion. They are better than the Sylvania VT-231 and other 2 hole Sylvania tubes as well, to me.

These are killer Sylvania 6SN7GT Bad Boys tubes with bass control beyond any other tube. Nowhere will you get the vocal sparkle these give you, believe the hype, these are performers; and their ability to involve the listener in a 3D soundstage we audiophiles love is unmatched.

These bad boys are an inexpensive way to vastly improve the sound of your system as they are better than the more expensive Sylvania 1940ish 6SN7GT/6SN7W Metal base versions IMHO, a tube rollers dream.

I like Shuguang WE6ns7 Plus the best so far and I bought them at Ali-Express. I have tried and spent a lot of money on several tubes, and these have been the best on my Freya+.so far.

I’ve read good things about the Linlai Elite 6SN7’s can anyone compare them to NOS Sylvania 6SN7 Bad Boys and these tubes I’ve seen on LTA’s website the Ray Tubes 6SN7 RESERVE’s? LTA is the manufacturer of the Microzotl brand audio gear.

I have not had the time to do a direct shootout, but here are my notes. I have an Aric Audio Transcend "Push Pull" EL34 amplifier that uses 3 6SN7s, and also Aric's Motherlode XL preamp which uses 2 6SN7s.

VT-231 JAN CBS Hytron 1952 Black Plate Clear Glass - Glorious top end, shimmer, detail, excellent vocals, with controlled if not powerful bottom end, great soundstage

5692 JAN CBS Hytron brown base, short glass 1950s - Very quiet almost black background, detailed, beautiful, great soundstage, tube that I left in for now

Sylvania 6SN7GT "Bad Boy" 3 hole black plates - Great all around tube, and less expensive than the VT-231s and 5962s. Thoroughly enjoyable, fun, warm but accurate bass, very direct, airy, comfortable, these are excellent in my preamp with my CODA S5.5 SS amp.

Linlai E-6SN7 - More of everything except they are quiet tubes. I held off buying these until mid 2024, because I kept hearing others had held off due to quality issues and lack of longevity. Those issues were probably cleared up earlier than that. They took about 100 hours to open up, and a little longer to really shine. Great detail, quick, vocals/midrange are beautiful, bass is tight and faster than other tubes. More "SS like" if there is such a thing, and don't have some of that tubey comfort, from the above and bad boys.....but damn they are awesome, especially in a tube preamp and amp.

Ray's Tubes - Like all of you, heard great reviews. Not sure I could stomach $500 a pair for a current production tube, especially when for the same money I could buy a Jan 5962 Red Base or 6SN7GT Black Glass Black Oval plates. I may however order a pair of the Ray's Select 6SN7......food for thought